Last call! All you need to know to enter the Nikon Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards

Nikon Team •Luonto ja villieläimet•04 kesäk. 2025•Lukuaika 4 min

Entries for the funniest competition of the year closes this month; here’s how to submit

It’s safe to say last year’s Nikon Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards made us howl with laughter, chirp with delight and were completely un-frog-ettable… OK, we’ll stop.

Last year, in a ceremony held at the Oxo Tower, London, Italian nature photographer Milko Marchetti scooped the top prize for his hilarious ‘Stuck Squirrel’ image, taking home a handmade trophy crafted by the Wonder Workshop in Tanzania, a safari in Kenya’s Maasai Mara at Alex Walker’s Serian camp, a Think Tank photography backpack and a certificate.

Entering its 11th year, the Nikon Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards is a competition open to wildlife photography novices, amateurs and professionals from around the world. It celebrates the humour found in the natural world while promoting a global conversation about conservation.

So, what makes a good comedic wildlife photograph? “We want images that capture the public’s imagination and make everyone laugh,” says judge Kate Humble, TV wildlife presenter and Whitley Fund for Nature ambassador. “We want to not only make people think about wildlife, but also see the images do well commercially, which inevitably helps conservation. Last year’s winner, Milko Marchetti, absolutely epitomises that.”

To be in for a chance of winning a week-long safari in Kenya for two people with Alex Walker’s Serian, a handmade trophy, a Think Tank BackLight 26L backpack and Nikon gear (last year the Z5II and Z6III were up for grabs), you’ll need to enter by 11.59pm on 30 June 2025 (BST).

Entries for the funniest competition of the year closes this month; here’s how to submit

It’s safe to say last year’s Nikon Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards made us howl with laughter, chirp with delight and were completely un-frog-ettable… OK, we’ll stop.

Nikon Team

What’s in our kitbag?

Z6IIINext level, full-frame camera

Z5IITruly together

Stuck squirrel. ©Milko Marchetti / Nikon Comedy Wildlife

Anyone can enter

Anyone in the world of any age can enter – from complete novice to your next-door neighbour (as long as the law in their country allows them to do so). You or your family may not enter if you are employed by the sponsors (such as Nikon), or are professionally involved in the organisation and administration of the competition. Entrants for ‘Junior Category’ must 16 or under by 11.59pm 30 June 2025 (BST) or 25 and under for ‘Young Photographer Category’. Full T&Cs here.

You can submit more than one photograph

Enter up to a total of six images, with a maximum of three images for each category, plus four images (required) for the Portfolio Category and up to two video clips, ideally no more than 60 seconds.

Know your categories

There are nine categories to choose from:

Alex Walker’s Serian Mammals Category
Spectrum Photo Birds Category
Think Tank Reptiles, Amphibians and Insects Category
Fish and Other Aquatic Species Category
Amazing Internet Portfolio Category – a collection of four hilarious images
Nikon Junior Category (Under 16)
Nikon Young Photographer Category (Under 25)
Video Clip Category
- Enter up to two video clips, with a max resolution of 1080p HD at 30fps and max file size of 150MB. No music or captions. Editing of video encouraged. Read here for more details.
People’s Choice Category
- A category you will automatically be entered in if you become a finalist. The public will vote for their favourite, with the winner of this category being announced in January 2026.

10-year-old Flynn Thaitanunde-Lobb wins Best Portfolio for his ‘Rock Star Squirrel’. ©Lucy Hamidzadeh

Captions do matter!

The photo is only one part of the submission – don’t forget your captions. The judges will declare the winning picture as the one that “combines the best technical excellence with the most amusing content and caption”.

You must own the copyright of the image

To enter, you must be the sole copyright owner and must have obtained all (if any) permissions needed to take and publish the picture (including, for example, from the owner of the premises where it was taken, or from any person or the owner of anything else featured in it). Click here for more about copyright.

Ethical wildlife photography only

A reminder that your still or video must not have disturbed, harassed, traumatised or caused hurt or injury to any animal. Your image must not be of pets, domestic, farm or captive animals, including animals that live in zoos or other captive environments. For guidance on ethical wildlife photography, read our Nikon Creator Lara Jackson’s guide here.

No digital manipulation

While basic digital corrections (including tone and contrast, burning, dodging, cropping, sharpening, noise reduction and minor cleaning work) are allowed, entrants must not alter the integrity of the image (including using any AI editing). If you reach the finals, the original image will be asked for.

Submissions close 30 June 2025

Ready to knock our socks off? Submit your submission through the Nikon Comedy Wildlife Photography website. You must complete the online entry form and upload your entries by 11.59pm BST on 30 June 2025.

Need some inspiration? Check out last year’s finalists here. The shortlist will be revealed in October, with winners announced later in November or December.

Highly commended winners at last year’s event

Five steps to get started as a wildlife photographer

Tips and tricks from Nikon Creator and Nikon Comedy Wildlife Award Judge Cam Whitnall

Practise using Manual mode. Understanding how to control shutter speed, aperture and ISO is crucial in wildlife photography. Fast-moving animals often require high shutter speeds to capture sharp images, while balancing aperture and ISO helps manage lighting conditions
Learn your subjects. That means everything about the animals’ behaviour, movements, habits and the environment in which they live in. Then patience and persistence are key. Be prepared at any moment for something to happen. Stay low, be flexible and ready to adapt and stay hidden.
Find your own style. Your style should be whatever makes your photography uniquely yours. It’s how you tell your story, and that authenticity is what will connect with people and help you grow as both an artist and a professional.
Build a portfolio. Whether on social media or a website, a portfolio helps cultivate a brand and build a following. Later, when it comes to earning that all-important income, networking is a great way to launch into the professional arena.

For more information about Nikon Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards, click here.

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